“While the Shed’s unique architectural structure has been revealed, the plans for programming within have been more ambiguous,” writes Andrew Chow in Tuesday’s (3/6) New York Times. “On Wednesday, the Shed’s artistic director, Alex Poots, revealed the first batch of commissions for the Hudson Yards venue’s inaugural season … in the spring of 2019 [including] a musical series conceived by [film director] Steve McQueen and Quincy Jones and a collaboration between the poet Anne Carson, the actor Ben Whishaw and the opera singer Renée Fleming…. Mr. McQueen … conceived of a concert series, entitled ‘Soundtrack of America,’ to explore African-American music from its 17th-century roots up through present-day forms like hip-hop and jazz…. A newly commissioned piece by Ms. Carson entitled ‘Norma Jeane Baker of Troy,’ based on Euripides’ ‘Helen,’ will [feature] Ben Whishaw [and] Ms. Fleming…. Classical music and art will entwine with ‘Reich Richter Pärt’ [a collaboration] with … Steve Reich and Arvo Pärt. A newly commissioned score by Mr. Reich will be performed by musicians from the International Contemporary Ensemble and others underneath paintings from [artist Gerhard] Richter’s ‘Patterns’ series…. The Shed also announced a commissioning program in which young New York City artists can apply for exhibition and performance space.”
Posted March 9, 2018
